Why Did They Help Us? Faith without Borders

I moved to Canada and worked as a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta. The city had a larger size, but lower population. The gorgeous and natural environment purified the minds of citizens there. They lived simply, and that simple lives might quiet their moody spirits. Their hearts filled with love. They might not have plenty of money but knew how to spend it. Give without expectation of return. My experience told me their behaviors were influencing the people who had been there.

Two Christians did great help for my family setting down in the city. They were my professor’s friends, and they serviced at the same church. The church had a mission to help international students and their families to set down in that city. Before our travel, one of them, Ms. Monica, helped me rant a house and left a box of food for my family. When we arrived at the airport in that city, another one, Mr. Deep, picked us up at the airport and drove us to the house. Also, he told us if we needed any further help, please let him know. He had a pickup truck and could deliver furniture for us. However, after that time, we never asked him to do anything for us because we didn’t use to be freely served. I could not understand why they helped us.

In order to thank them for such great help, we invited them to our home for dinner. I believed we all were very serious about that meeting since we didn’t look familiar with the two countries’ cultures. Unexpectedly, we all prepared gifts for each other. Theirs were a bunch of beautiful flowers from Monica, and a box of Danish biscuits from Deep. Ours were a Scarf buckle for Monica and a set of traditional Chinese hand-draft for Deep. We all loved the precious gifts. During the dinner, I got to know that Monica and Deep were not a couple. Deep was younger than Monica. He looked like a teacher. He was very gentle and wearing a pair of glasses with a dark color frame. Monica was a pretty lady. She was tall and slim, with golden hairs, bright eyes, and rosy cheeks, which made her, looked elegant.

It was just October, and the city was covered by snow. When Monica saw my son still dressed in a summer jacket, she asked me if I brought any winter clothes. I told her, “No, we came from Singapore and no winter there, we need to find a store and buy someone.” She immediately went home and brought some winter clothes for my son. My son squeezed his kind little hands and said, “Thanks a lot.” I  was so touched for her paying attention to us. Even Living in that strange place, but with their concern, we never felt alone.

Why did they help us? The Bible gave the answer in Mathew 6-3-4: “Giving to the Needy”  It wrote, “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,  so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” I realized that in the western world, Christians took an important role in helping others to go through a tough time. In this world, Christians spread in different countries, and they sever the same God without the border.